The Computer Gods Are Angry

Poor Brendan. I don't know what it is about computers. He claims that computers "hate him", and to be honest with you, sometimes I think he's right. Brendan has computer problems that nobody else has. Granted, he's not exactly an ace troubleshooter, which often catapults innocent five-minute fixes into a afternoon frenzy of pain and suffering, but still. With all his bad luck, it's actually possible that the computer gods are punishing him for something.

This morning started out fine as Brendan attempted to buy a flight to Chicago online. No biggie. He's done it before. We're still living with my mom while we try to sort out jobs and such, and rather than crawl the walls here day after day, he's decided to spend a week visiting friends and family back home.

Except that it wasn't going so well. First, the flight he wanted disappeared.

"Aaaah! My flight's gone!" he wailed.

"They canceled the flight?"

"No... it's just ...missing!"

"What do you mean, the flight's missing?"

"I went through all the steps, and NOW they tell me there are no more seats."

"Oh. Well honey, that happens."

Indignant muttering ensued. I buried my head the the Vanity Fair Green Issue.

"What the...? Why, Horizon Airlines? This makes no sense! Argghh!"

He knew he was being dramatic. He just wanted me to understand how upset he was. I fought the urge to offer to take over. See, I usually do this, and he usually lets me. But then he doesn't learn. I can't always keep taking over. He has to learn.

"Oh my god. This is bad. This is really, really bad. Oh my god." (He was saying it just like that, as if Armageddon had arrived.)

"Honey, what's wrong? Why has this gotten so bad?" I asked with as much patience as I could muster.

"Well, I thought I had booked a 7:30 a.m. flight, but it booked me on a 7:30 p.m. flight, and now I can't make my connection."

"It booked the wrong flight? The computer did? Or did you enter the wrong flight info maybe?"

"No. No it freaked out and just did this."

"Hmm. Sounds like a pretty big glitch. Can't you just change the flight back to the one you wanted originally?"

He gestured at the screen helplessly. "But I already used my American Airlines miles. And, now... it's just a huge mess. This is crazy."

"Sounds like you need to get someone on the phone."

"Yeah."

Thankfully, Brendan's phone skills are totally up to par and he managed to smooth out the Great Airline Fiasco within about three hours. It had been a very traumatic morning, and when it was all over he was visibly shaken from this latest technological meltdown. I don't know how he's going to survive for a week in the Midwest without me.

-Sarah

Comments

but... wasnt he co-hosting a rather tech heavey show? two of them?

I thought you all had to be pretty tech savy.. well, except olivia munn who is apparently just attractive...

When he has a problem, don't take over for him. Assist him. Teach him. Everyone will benefit.

Oh, this means KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF THE MOUSE AND KEYBOARD.

I have the same problem of taking over. I guess I should stop, I just don't want anything to happen to my laptop. Oh well, he'll learn in time, I hope his luck gets better. Perhaps he could get a blog like Sarah.Word, it would be nice.

-John-

Boy, I really missed this blog. So exciting to hear about Branden being unable to book a flight. I had goosebumps reading this post.

SOOOO flippin boring. I'm going to blow out my cyber-brains now with a cyber-pistol....

Brendan will have to use the phone only. While he is without you. Hea, how did the race go?

I am also thinking about going on a trip like you both (ofcourse its only an idea yet ha ha).I must say that the credit goes to you two, as your blog has been the only thing that has became the source of inspiration for me.I thought that the best way is to follow in your footsteps.It is only after reading your adventures that I started believing that I will be able to do it too, especially after reading that you can go about this trip and still enjoy all the pleasures too.If you can survive it so can everyone else.i am really grateful to you for this new hope to look forward to.

I hate flying, and I hate booking flights. I've been lucky enough to have only done it once.

Painful thought that you may be picking the time of your death!